Freehub clicking or not?

[Jackswan]

Last couple of rides I have been having a click sound from somewhere around the back wheel.

Up on the work stand no sound at all. But as soon as I put weight on it while riding there is a distinct click from the back wheel.
Bike is a Giant Defy 1
Clicking seems to be once on each revolution of the wheel and sound as though it is coming from the centre.
Thought it might be the wheel bearings, (the Defy has cartridge bearings)so prised the seals off and regreased. Chain and derailleur seem fine. So that probably leaves the spokes and freehub. Might put a drop of oil on where the spokes cross. Other than that I am stumped and the noise is driving me mad.

Any suggestions?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Don't bother oiling the spoke crossings. It will only foul the wheel and not cure anything. Are you sure it is not the BB? Screw-in Hollowech BBs do the click for a living. Bike sounds are very difficult to pinpoint.

 

[helston90]

Have you tried the seat post? I swapped out my carbon seat post in my defy 1 for an alu one and since then have to keep on top of the grease to prevent a once a revolution clicking sound (it also disappears when out of the saddle for obvious reasons?)

 

[Jackswan]

Clicking sound can be heard when pedalling or coasting. Doubt it is the BB

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Clicking sound can be heard when pedalling or coasting. Doubt it is the BB

OK, coasting rules it out for sure.

 

[Tim Hall]

Bit of grit in the tyre? Deformation of the rim catching a brake block? Me clutching at straws?

 

[Levo-Lon]

I had this on a superstar hub..one of the pawls was a bit sticky and made a regular louder click..every rotation ..2 worked properly..but the sticky one was much louder.
have you checked the free hub pawls if you can on your wheel ,it could be that..

mine was fine after a clean

 

[pawl]

I had this on a superstar hub..one of the pawls was a but sticky and made a regular louder click..
if you have checked the free hub pawls if you can on your wheel ,it could be that..

mine was fine after a clean

Check that a spoke is not slightly loose

I had this problem albeit in a front wheel.One spoke was a little loose .Tightened the off ending spoke problem solved.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I had this on my trike which also runs cartridge bearings. I couldn't see any obvious cause externally so pulled the bearings out, they looked perfect with no signs of wear and when I slipped the seals off they were clean and adequately greased so I just put them back in place puzzled as to what the problem was. Whatever it was, it had cured itself - so my advice before you get to dismantling the hub is take the wheel out, have a close look for any obvious issues. Put it back correctly and then if the clicking persists take the wheel off again and have a look at the bearings.

 

[Jackswan]

Nipped up my spokes before a ride yesterday, for the first 29 miles had the annoying clicking, louder when travelling below 15mph. The last mile for some reason it went quiet.
Will listen on my next ride on Sunday, but this is getting really annoying.
The click does seem to be once every revolution of the back wheel

 

[mythste]

I had a bit of grit or something between the spoke crossings on my old Focus. A good clean with strong babywipes being "sliced" between the spokes removed the offending article and all was good in the world

edit - thinking about it, that may have been a symptom of spokes not being 100% where they should be in the first place.

 

[Jackswan]

Managed to put a few drops of oil on my freehub. Just done a 48 miler and there was no clicking at all. Seems to be much quieter while coasting as well.